2:50pm Friday 27th August 2010
DAGENHAM & Redbridge will be confident of getting their first points of the League One season when they play host to Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.
The Daggers are languishing near the foot of the table after successive away defeats to Sheffield Wednesday and Notts County.
However, they will get the chance to play in front of their own fans at Victoria Road this weekend, when they will hope some of the fans that roared them to victory at Wembley back in May will do the same against Tranmere.
The Daggers have had to wait for their maiden home game in League One after last week’s scheduled clash with Exeter City was postponed due to the tragic death of Grecians player Adam Stansfield.
Tranmere have also endured a rocky start to their campaign.
A first day 2-1 loss at home to Oldham was followed by an encouraging point at one of the favourites for promotion, Huddersfield Town.
However, all the good work was undone on Saturday, when newly-promoted Bourne-mouth thumped them 3-0 in their own back yard.
It appears the road is the best place for Rovers at present, while Daggers will be relieved to be able to take a break from their team bus.
John Still’s men are still searching for their first goal at this level, and he will be hoping that can come from last season’s goal machine Paul Benson, who is likely to be paired with Josh Scott in attack.
Scott came close on several occasions to giving Daggers the lead at the County Ground, first forcing the keeper into a smart save before thumping a fierce shot against the upright.
County found the breakthrough shortly after the break, Ben Davies threading a superb ball through the visitors’ defence and Craig Westcarr finishing expertly past Tony Roberts.
Danny Green came close with a free-kick in stoppage time but the hosts clung on for the win.
Meanwhile, Still has been boosted by the news that defender Abu Ogogo has signed a new two-year deal with the club.
The right-back, who joined the Daggers last summer after being released by Arsenal, has become a key part of Still’s team, featuring 38 times in the side’s promotion campaign last year.
He has also played in all three of Dagenham’s games so far this season, impressing against both Sheffield Wednesday and Notts County in league action.
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